14/05/2003

Police to roll out fines scheme for anti-social crime

Police will be able to issue fines of up to £80 as part of a bid to reduce the amount of time they spend on paperwork.

A trial scheme has proved to help officers tackle anti-social behaviour, like drunk and disorderly behaviour will be introduced nationwide by the end of the year.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the expansion of fixed penalty notices at the Police Federation Conference, where he told officers that the government wanted to make sure the police service was fighting crime, not the system.

"Implementing this scheme nationwide is an important part of the government's agenda to tackle anti-social behaviour and fear of crime," he said.

"But it also shows we are serious about stamping out bureaucracy and enabling police officers to get out on the streets and do their job."

An extra £20 million will help to modernise police stations and communications technology - and further reduce bureaucracy and paperwork for the police.

The Home Secretary also revealed the results of a month-long national firearms amnesty. More than 40,000 guns and nearly half a million rounds of ammunition were handed in - more than were surrendered in the last amnesty in 1996.

(GMcG)

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